Chalk line holder

ABSTRACT

An improved chalk line holder in which either a liquid or dry marking agent can be utilized for striking lines of a varying degree of permanence. The packing gland through which the cord passes is held under compression thereby preventing enlargement of the orifice in the packing gland and the subsequent loss of marking agent through the enlarged orifice.

United States Patent [191 Lucich 1March 20, 1973 CHALK LINE HOLDER [76] Inventor: Steve M. Lucich, PO. Box 305, Reno, Nev. 89504 [22] Filed: April 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 131,529

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 854,334, June 25, 1969.

[52] US. Cl ..33/87 [51] Int. Cl. ..B44d 3/38 [58] Field of Search ..33/87 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,557 8/1901 Wilson ..33/87 1,271,470 2,398,805 4/1946 Pomeroy ..33/87 Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Phillips [5 7] ABSTRACT An improved chalk line holder in which either a liquid or dry marking agent can be utilized for striking lines of a varying degree of permanence. The packing gland through which the cord passes is held under compression thereby preventing enlargement of the orifice in the packing gland and the subsequent loss of marking agent through the enlarged orifice.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 7/1918 lbaraki ..33/87- CHALK LINE HOLDER This is a continuation of Ser. No. 854,334 filed on June 25, 1969.

This invention relates to a holder for a retractable cord, and more particularly, to a chalk line holder capable of utilizing either a dry or a liquid marking agent. The apparatus comprises in a liquid tight container having a reel for holding the cord, two rollers, a packing gland assembly and breathing tube for maintaining tension, alignment and for removing excess marking agent from the cord.

While holders for chalk lines or cords by which the cord may be retracted are not new, the holder according to the present invention has a number of advantages over those heretofore known. The new chalk line holder allows the use of a liquid or powdered marking agent for impregnating the cord. The liquid marking agent can be used when a more permanent, line is desired. Powdered marking agent can be used as in heretofore known chalk line holders, where an easily obliterated line can be tolerated or is desired. Another embodiment of the present invention is in the use of the liquid marking agent whereby a neater, narrower and more accurate line may be struck. A further advantage of this invention, in the use of a liquid marking agent, is that less marking agent is required for striking a line, thereby resulting in less frequent filling of the marking agent reservoir than is required by heretofore known chalk line holders. Leakage of liquid marking agent through the breather tube when the holder is in a horizontal or vertical position will not occur provided the interior end of the breather tube is not submerged. Projection of the breather tube into the interior of the case allows the case to be filed to a higher level before the end of the breather tube becomes submerged.

Particular advantage of the apparatus disclosed herein is in the design of the breather tube wherein the packing gland through which the cord passes is held in compression by a spring, thereby preventing enlargement of the orifice in said gland by the passage of the cord. Since said gland maintains tension and removes excess marking agent from the cord any enlargement of the orifice in said gland would defeat its purpose.

Packing glands found in heretofore known chalk line holders disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,589,500 and 2,749,618, issued on Mar. 18, 1952, and on June 12, 1956, respectively, to R. K. LANDON and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,206,855, issued on Sept. 2l, 1965, to R. C. Fletcher, do not provide compensation for the rubbing action of the cord within the orifice, thereby allowing enlargement of the orifice and the subsequent loss of marking agent through the enlarged orifice. The aforementioned enlargement of the orifice allows the cord to carry an excess of marking agent over that required for striking a line thereby causing waste of the marking agent and a loss of sharpness of the struck line.

The usefulness of the invention disclosed herein becomes apparent when the needs of the craftsman are I understood. For instance, during the construction of a building, it is sometimes necessary to provide straight lines for the length of the floor, to facilitate alignment and proper placement of the covering material, or across the roof toprovide a reference for trimming the sheathing and for the alignment of the shingles. In instances such as these, a line that is impervious to the wind, rain and foot traffic of the workmen, is required.

Whereas lines struck utilizing a powdered marking agent as in Landons and Fletchers disclosures are easily obliterated by wind, rain and the foot traffic of the workmen, the present invention, whereby a liquid marking agent is utilized, provides lines of much greater permanence.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a compact and efficient devise for the accurate marking of lines on a surface by use of a liquid or dry marking agent.

These and other objects and advantages of the inven tion will be more clearly understood from the following description of two embodiments of the invention considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view taken from the left side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of section indicated by the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of section indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of the wringer rollers.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the breather tube taken along its axis.

FIG. 6a is a top view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view as in FIG. 3 showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the wringer rollers are not utilized and the position of the breather tube has been modified.

Having reference now to the details of the drawings, we have provided a case 1 containing a reel 13 supported by axle 27 which is held in flange 6 by nut 15. Screws 24,25 and 26 attach the wringer roller assembly to the inner surface of case 1. A helical spring 8 attached to filler plug 4 bears against bracket 21 to which is attached wringer roller 20. A breather tube consisting of a flanged bolt 3 to which is attached helical spring 9 which holds sleeve 11 so that packing gland 12 is compressed between the end of sleeve 11 and cylinder 10 which is threaded into flanged bolt 3 which screws into the upper end of case 1.

Referring more particularly to the means of holding reel 13 inside case 1, one end of axle 27 is threaded and is screwed into reel 13. The other end of axle 27 is threaded for nut 15. A portion of axle 27 is not threaded and forms a bearing surface with the hole in flange 6. Seal 28 is compressed between reel 13 and flange 6 by tightening nut 15 onto axle 27. A means for rotating reel 13 is provided by crank 5 which also locks nut 15 in its present position. A square end on axle 27 mates with a square hole in crank 5 thereby preventing the rotation of one independently of the other. Screw I4 secures crank 5 to axle 27. Flange .6 is threaded and screws into case 1. The periphery shoulder on flange 6 forms a seal with the surface of case 1.

wringer rollers 18 and 20 are secured in position within case 1 by brackets 19 and 21 and screws 24, 25, and 26. Bracket 21 is allowed to pivot about screw 24 so that the desired contact pressure between wringer rollers 18 and 20 is maintained by the action of spring 8. Removing filler plug 4 allows rollers 18 and 20 to be separated to facilitate the stringing of cord 16. Seal 23 effectively prevents the loss of marking agent when filler plug 4 is screwed into case 1.

Packing gland 12 is held in compression between the ends of sleeve 11 and cylinder respectively by spring 9 which is under tension. Spring 9 is attached to sleeve 11 and to flanged bolt 3 by welding or other suitable means. Cylinder 10 is threaded and screws into flanged bolt 3. Orifice 17 passes longitudinally through flanged bolt 3 and is aligned with cylinder 10 and orifice 2 in the end of sleeve 11. Washer 7 provides a seal between flanged bolt 3 and case 1.

A cord 16 is wound upon reel 13 and has its free end led between wringer rollers 18 and 20 and outwardly through orifice 2, packing gland l2, cylinder 10 and orifice 17. The bitter end of cord 16 may be led through a suitable hole (not shown) through the center of reel 13 tangent to axle 27 and there be knotted.

Obviously, other utilization of the present invention and other modifications, such as shown in FIG. 7, and variations in its detail are possible in light of the disclosure herein. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved chalk line holder comprising a liquid tight container holding a substantial body of liquid marking agent and having an axle for holding a reel rotatably mounted in said container, a cord wound on said reel, a crank connected to said axle and located outside said container a breather tube having a packing gland at its innermost end and means to maintain said gland in a compressed condition, said tube projects into the interior of said container to such an extent that when the container is lying on any of its sides the marking agent will not cover the packing gland, a wringer roller assembly comprising flexible rollers held in contact with one another and through which said cord is wrung prior to passage through said breather tube to the exterior of said container and is used for striking lines upon a surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the packing gland through which the said cord passes is held under compression by a spring which maintains a constant pressure on said packing gland thereby preventing the enlargement of the orifice in said packing gland by the rubbing action of said cord.

* III 

1. An improved chalk line holder comprising a liquid tight container holding a substantial body of liquid marking agent and having an axle for holding a reel rotatably mounted in said container, a cord wound on said reel, a crank connected to said axle and located outside said container a breather tube having a packing gland at its innermost end and means to maintain said gland in a compressed condition, said tube projects into the interior of said container to such an extent that when the container is lying on any of its sides the marking agent will not cover the packing gland, a wringer roller assembly comprising flexible rollers held in contact with one another and through which said cord is wrung prior to passage through said breather tube to the exterior of said container and is used for striking lines upon a surface.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the packing gland through which the said cord passes is held under compression by a spring which maintains a constant pressure on said packing gland thereby preventing the enlargement of the orifice in said packing gland by the rubbing action of said cord. 